Evolution. It's for the birds.

Review: The Waste Lands

Book 3 of the series and the story is getting deeper and more complex – with that comes increased length. The complexity of inter-relationships requires more detail in the events, and there are more events occurring as well, but King keeps the story focused and interesting.

As the story unfolds, I’m appreciating the foreshadowing of the first two novels, the hints of stories that I find hard to believe weren’t fully formed in King’s mind all along. This is a long journey, but a worthwhile one, and I’m now living the addiction. I’m beginning to understand enough about Roland to finally love him, and want him to succeed. (I’m also mindful of the people King mentions in the foreword, those who were old or otherwise near death, and never got to finish this saga, and I’m grateful that the series was actually finished when I started.)

There’s a lot more action in this book than the previous two, and it’s gripping and tense, with some of King’s talent for horror being put to good use (the scene with Jake and the door for instance). I’m enjoying the mix and can finally recommend the series not just on trust, but on honest appreciation of what I’m reading. The promise hinted at in the first novel is finally shining through!

I recommend this to anyone who loves a good saga.

(Oh and Lud!! I love the name of that city. All the way through I wasn’t sure if it was pronounced Lood or Ludd and I hated it, but right at the very end King drops one of my favourite terms into the mix and I realized exactly how it’s meant to be said. And it gave such a depth to the people who live there, too.)